James 'Larry' Hard, beloved husband, father and grandfather, died Saturday, March 1st, 2014. He was 78 years old. Larry was born on May 29, 1935 in Waller, Texas to James Bryant Hard and Queenie Garrett Hard. He graduated from Waller High School in 1953, attended Blinn College, and served in the U.S. Army Reserve.

He went to work for Gulf States Utilities (GSU) in 1954 and in 1957 moved to Navasota and married Barbara Jean Mohr. When married, friends erected a sign in their yard "Just Married - Watch Texas Grow." Larry moved his family to Conroe in 1968, where he continued to work for GSU in its right-of-way department. He retired from GSU in 1993 with 38 years of service.

Larry is survived by his wife of 56 years, Barbara Mohr Hard, and his four children: Beverly Hard Simmons of Conroe; Cindy Hard Fuest and husband Craig of Angleton; James and wife Lorrie of Oak Ridge North; and Edwin and wife Heidi of College Station. He is survived by nine grandchildren: Beau Simmons, Bruce Simmons and wife Katy, Cassie Fuest Hamilton and husband Andrew, Martin Fuest, James W. Hard, Jessica Hard Byrne and husband Stephen, Caroline Hard, David Hard, and Mason Hard. Larry is also survived by his sister, Jeannine Hard Lievsay and husband John of Conroe. Larry is preceded in death by his parents, brother Ronny Hard, and uncles Pete, Earl, and Mack Garrett.

Larry grew up working on the family-owned dairy farm and Texaco Service Station in Waller. Prior to leaving for school on his horse, his day at the dairy began at 3:30am where he milked cows, cleaned the dairy, and loaded milk on a truck to be hauled to the Carnation Creamery in west Houston. Larry was a good athlete and respected outdoorsman. He excelled at tennis and baseball in high school and tried out for the minor leagues as a pitcher. In his later years, he could shoot 'his age' in golf. While Larry liked to fish, golf, and watch football (especially Aggie football), his true passion was deer hunting. As young man, he hunted on horseback in the 'open woods' between Waller and Camp Strake near Conroe and on leases in the Magnolia and Stoneham areas. From 1973 until recent years, he hunted on the 'Bender Pasture' lease in southeast Montgomery County with a fine group of men who would become lifelong friends to him and his family.

The family extends special thanks to Larry's friends and to friends of the family for their thoughts, prayers, and condolences. Special thanks are also extended to Dr. Adam Frome and Dr. Gary Sharpless for their outstanding care of Larry in his final years. A memorial service for Larry Hard will be held on Thursday, March 6, 2014 at 10 am at Cashner Funeral Home in Conroe. Written condolences to the family can be left at the link to Cashner below.